Tire awling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically awling tires to permit easy escape of trapped gases which may have been enclosed or developed interiorly of the casing during manufacture or result from permeation from the inner chamber through the tubeless liner during the life of the tire. The apparatus automatically advances and centers a tire on the apparatus, after which it is vertically positioned and inflated preparatory to awling. After inflation, the apparatus automatically awls both sides of the tire simultaneously in a plurality of locations, after which the tire is deflated and ejected from the apparatus.

United States Patent Klose 1 July 1 l, 1972 541 TIRE AWLING APPARATUS3,107,565 10/1963 Hermanns as/2 3,389,626 6/1968 Wise 1.83/2 [72] ohm2,561,012 7/1951 Clark ..s3/2 ux [73] Assignee: Cooper Tire 8: RubberCompany, Findlay,

Ohio Primary Examiner-James M. Meister [22] Filed: Jam 28, 1970Attorney-Baldwin, Egan; Walling& Fetzer [2]] App]. No.: 6,455 [57]ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically awling tires to permit easy[1.8. CI. 1 i i i 1 i r esca e of gases may have been enclosed or 157/I3 developed interiorly of the casing during manufacture or [51] lnt.Cl. ..BZ6f [/34 result from permeation from the inner chamber thrcughthe [58] Field of Semh 660; tubelem liner during the life of the tire.The apparatus auto- 157/ I 156/87 matically advances and centers a tireon the apparatus, after which it is vertically positioned and inflatedpreparatory to [56] lemmas Clad awling. After inflation, the apparatusautomatically awls both UNITED STATES PATENTS sides of the tiresimultaneously in a plurality of locations, after which the tire isdeflated and ejected from the apparatus. 3,l$4,985 ll/l964 83/2 Kehoe eta1........................:Tiif13 x 3Clailm, 9Drawlng FiguresPATENTEnJuL a 1 m2 SHEET 2 BF 7 aw wgg a a? PATENTEBJuL 1 I 1972 SHEET 5BF 7 M/VENM/P 14a W A2065 TIRE AWLING APPARATUS This invention relatesto tire awling apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatusthat automatically awls tires on both sides thereof in a plurality oflocations.

During the manufacture of pneumatic tires, pockets of air often becometrapped between the plies or permeate through the liner. ln service,there is constant migration or permeation of inflating air through theliner. Such air may accumulate in pockets within the tire casing andcoupled with the dynamic stresses engendered during running, will leadultimately to destruction of the tire. Due to modern high speedoperation, this condition is particularly troublesome at the tread,where the forces of centrifugal force and trapped air pressure aredirectly additive.

Separations caused by air permeating through the liner and unable toescape through the side wall or the tread area of a tire can be reducedby carcass venting. The art of venting has been practiced for quite sometime. [t is generally performed by hand and is also known as handawling. lnconsistencies associated with hand awling, such as improperpenetration of the awling needle, awling in areas not specified, etc.,are undesirable and can lead to separations.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus forautomatically and positively awling both sides of a tire simultaneouslyat a plurality of locations consistently and at the proper depth. It isnot necessary for the awl to strike each air pocket. It is onlynecessary to provide air egress perforations at a number of placesaround the periphery and the entrapped air will migrate to these points.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awling machine of theabove type that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and highly effective in operation.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of anapparatus for automatically awling tires to relieve any air pressure inthe tire structure. The apparatus includes a base, a pair of spacedupstanding columns extending upwardly from said base, and an inclinedtire roller conveyor system disposed between and secured to said columnsintermediate the ends thereof including a gravity feed conveyor and apower-driven discharge conveyor for feeding and discharging tires fromthe apparatus in preselected sequence. A pair of spaced coactinghydraulically controlled single tire release gate arms are disposed atthe sides of the feed conveyor and are configured and adapted to retainand release one tire at a time on such feed conveyor, such release gatesbeing horizontally rotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from aposition over the feed conveyor to retain and release one tire at a timethereon in preselected sequence, whereby a released tire rolls down thefeed conveyor by gravity to the inner end of such feed conveyor. Twopair of oppositely and horizontally spaced centering rollers aredisposed adjacent the sides of the inner end of the feed conveyor andare movably mounted for displacement toward and away from each other tocenter a tire therebetween on the apparatus. A stationary upper tirebead ring is secured to and interposed between the spaced columns abovethe conveyor system. A vertically movable lower bead ring is disposedbelow the tire when it is in centered position at the inner end of thefeed conveyor, such lower bead ring being movable vertically so as tolift the tire and clamp it against the upper bead ring in sealingrelation preparatory to inflation.

A vertically disposed lock shaft extends centrally through the upperbead ring, such lock shaft having a lock key secured to its lower end.The lower bead ring includes a lower bead ring support having an annulargroove for receiving the lock key in locking relation therein when thelower bead ring is raised to clamp the tire against the upper bead ring,thereby locking the upper and lower bead rings in predetermined spacedrelation with the tire therebetween. The lock shaft has an airpassageway formed longitudinally therein with the inner end of thepassageway opening into the interior of the tire when it is clampedbetween the bead rings, and the other end of the passageway is connectedto an associated source of compressed air to inflate the tire.

Ill

A plurality of individual hydraulically actuated awling mechanism aredisposed in spaced operative relation on the periphery of both beadrings for awling both sides of the tire to a predetermined depth whenthe tire is inflated. A pair of spaced coacting hydraulically controlledrear stop gate arms are disposed at the sides of the discharge conveyoradjacent the inner end thereof, such rear stop gate arms beinghorizontally rotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from a positionadjacent the inner end of the discharge conveyor to retain a tirethereat as it is received from the feed conveyor.

Thus, there is provided an apparatus that automatically awls both sidesof a tire simultaneously at a plurality of locations. The area of chanceis eliminated with the present invention by assuring accurate awlingconsistently and automatically.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of an automatic tire awling apparatusconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of the base of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a lefi end elevational view of the apparatus shown in P10. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1-,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper and lower bead ringsof the apparatus of FIG. I, such bead rings being shown in disengagedposition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the bead rings in lockedposition for effecting tire inflation;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the awling mechanisms shownin FIG. 5;

F IG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the tire inflation and awlin g controlmechanisms of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the flow control valves and associatedconnections of the apparatus of FIG. I.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in theuse of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown an apparatus forautomatically awling tires constructed in accordance with the inventionand including a base 10. a pair of spaced upstanding columns 12 and I4extending upwardly from the base, and an inclined, gravity-type tireroller conveyor system disposed between and secured to the columns 12and [4 intermediate the ends thereof including a feed conveyor l6 and apower driven discharge conveyor 18 for discharging tires from theapparatus in preselected sequence, as will be hereinafter explained.

A pair of spaced, coacting, hydraulically controlled single tire releasegate arms 20 and 22 are disposed at the sides of the feed conveyor 16and are configured and adapted to retain and release one tire 17 at atime on such feed conveyor. The release gates 20, 22 are horizontallyrotatable about the points 24, 26, respectively, in coacting timedsequence to and from a position over the feed conveyor 16 to retain andrelease one tire at a time thereon in preselected sequence, whereby areleased tire rolls down the feed conveyor by gravity to the inner endof such feed conveyor. The release gates 20, 22 are operated in unisonby the piston-cylinder mechanism 27 in conjunction with the coactinglevers 28 and 29 as shown in FIG. 3.

Two pair of oppositely and horizontally spaced centering rollersconsisting of paired rollers 32, 33 and paired rollers 34, 35 aredisposed adjacent the sides of the inner end of the feed conveyor 16 andmovably mounted for displacement toward and away from each other tocenter a tire therebetween. The paired rollers are actuated by thepiston-cylinder mechanism 36 in conjunction with the coacting levers 37,38 and 39 as shown (FIG. 3).

A stationary upper tire bead ring 42 is secured to and is interposedbetween the spaced columns 14 and 12 above the conveyor system and issecured to such columns through the cross beam 44.

A vertically movable lower bead ring 46 is disposed below the tire 17when such tire is in position at the inner and of the feed conveyor 16.The lower bead ring 46 is movable vertically upward so as to lift thetire l7 and clamp it against the upper bead ring 42 (as shown in FIG. 2)preparatory to inflation. The lower bead ring 46 is actuated by thepiston-cylinder mechanism 48 as shown (FIG. 2).

A vertically disposed lock shaft 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5) extends centrallythrough the upper bead ring 42, such lock shaft having a lock key 53secured to its lower end. The lower bead ring 46 includes a lower beadring support 55 having an annular groove 56 for receiving the lock key53 in locking relation therein when the lower bead ring is raised toclamp the tire 17 against the upper bead ring thereby locking the upperand lower bead rings in predetermined spaced relation with the tire l7therebetween. Such locking is effected by rotating the lock shaft aquarter of a turn to lock the key in the groove 56, such shaft rotationbeing effected by the lock cylinder 57 as shown in FIG. 3.

The lock shaft 52 has an air passageway 60 formed longitudinallytherethrough with the inner end of the passageway opening into theinterior of the tire 17 when it is clamped between the upper and lowerbead rings 42, 46 and the other end of the passageway is connected to anassociated source of compressed air (not shown) to inflate the tire.

A plurality of hydraulically actuated awling mechanisms 64, 65, etc.,are disposed in spaced operative relation on the periphery of the beadrings, as shown, for awling the sides of the tire 17 to a predetermineddepth after the tire is inflated. As shown in FIG. 6, each awlingmechanism including an awling needle 70 mounted on a piston 72 of apiston-cylinder mechanism. The needle may be adjustable for depthpenetration.

A pair of spaced, coacting, hydraulically controlled rear stop gate arms80, 82 are disposed at the sides of the discharge conveyor 18 adjacentthe inner end thereof, such rear stop gate arms being horizontallyrotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from a position adjacent theinner end of the discharge convey or to retain a tire thereat as it isreceived from the feed conveyor in preparation for centering. The rearstop gate arms 80, 82 are actuated by the piston-cylinder mechanism 85in conjunction with the coacting levers 86 and 87 as shown in FIG. 3. Toeffect quick discharge of the tire from the apparatus, certain rollersof the discharge conveyor are rotated by the chain drive 83 which isdriven by a suitable driving means 84.

In FIG. 7, pressurized fluid is introduced into the system at point Thefeed gate cylinder 27 is controlled by the fourway valve 87 and the flowcontrol valves 88, 89. The lower bead ring cylinder 48 is controlled bythe three-way valve 90 and the flow control valve 9l, and the dischargegate cylinder 85 is controlled by the four-way valve 92 and the flowcontrol valves 93, 94.

In FIG. 8, pressurized fluid enters the system at X" and the lockcylinder 57 is controlled by the four-way valve 95. The inflation systemincluding air passageway 60 is controlled by the three-way valve 96. Theawling mechanisms 64, 65, etc. are controlled by the four-way valve 97,and the centering cylinder 36 is controlled by the pressure regular 98,the fourway valve 99, and the flow control valve 100.

In operation, a tire is introduced to the conveyor 16 at the front gates20 and 22 and such gate signals through a photocell for front gate toopen. The single tire release mechanism prevents a second tire fromfollowing. One only tire is permitted to enter the awling machine. Theclosed rear gates 80, 82 stop the tire on the gravity conveyor 16 on orabout the center of the awling machine. The desired stop position forthe tire is adjustable. The presence of the tire activates tirecentering" (32, 33, 34, 35) through a photocell and closes the frontgates 20 and 22 again. The lower ring 46 "raise" action is time delayedto give tire ample time to settle and to be centered in the awlingmachine. At the time the bottom ring 46 contacts the lower bead of thetire, a limit switch closes (it was held open by the bottom ring 46 inthe down position) which relaxes and returns the centering rollers 32,33, 34, 35 and also opens the rear gates 80, 82. Raising the tireagainst the upper bead ring 42 closes a limit switch which in turnactivates the lock solenoid which actuates the lock cylinder 57. Thelock signal obtained through closing of a limit switch introduces theinflation air to the tire, which generates a separating force thatbecomes greater than the lift force produced by cylinder 48 causing thelower ring of ring 46 and ring support 55 and the subsequent engagementof lock pin 53 with the annular groove 56 on the lower ring support 55.Awling is started by a signal from a pressure switch. The pressure isadjustable. Recommended awling pressure for passenger tires is 20 BS].The awling circuit contains an electrical counter for counting thenumber of awl cycles electrically. The extended piston of the slave awlcylinder 10] closes a limit switch which deenergizes inflation andlocking. A timer deenergizes lower ring raise". The bottom ring 46 andtire 17 are lowered. The tire is stripped from bottom bead ring 46 bythe gravity conveyor 16, and the tire is rapidly discharged down thepower driven roller conveyor 18. A photocell signals "conveyor clear"which closes the rear gates 80, 82 for cycle repeat. Presence of anytire on the driven conveyor rollers for more than 15 seconds deenergizesthe roller drive to prevent marking of the tire. The length of time isselective by setting a timer.

Thus, the invention provides an apparatus for automatically awling tiresto relieve trapped air pockets interiorly of the tire casing includingfeed means in the form of feed conveyor 16 and coacting gates 20, 22 foradvancing a tire to the apparatus, horizontal positioning means in theform of the centering rollers 32, 33, 34, 35 for horizontally centeringthe tire on the apparatus, vertical positioning means in the form of theupper and lower bead rings 42, 46 in conjunction with inclined ribs 50for vertically positioning the tire on the apparatus after it ishorizontally centered and preparatory to inflation, inflating means forinflating the tire preparatory to awling, awling means 64, 65, etc. forawling the inflated tire on at least one side thereof to relieve trappedair therein, deflating means through passageway 60 for deflating thetire, and rapid power driven discharge means in the form of dischargeconveyor 18 and its coacting discharge arms and 82 for ejecting theawled tire I! from the apparatus.

With the apparatus of the invention tire awling is effectedconsistently, accurately, and inexpensively.

The invention also contemplates the method of awling tires to releasetrapped air pockets interiorly of the tire casing including inflatingthe tire to a predetermined pressure, simultaneously awling the tire ina plurality of locations, and deflating the tire. The method of theinvention also may include the step of awling the tire on at least oneside thereof, or awling the tire at a plurality of locations on bothsides of the tire.

Iclaim:

1. An apparatus for automatically awling tires to relieve trapped airpockets interiorly of the tire casing comprising, feed means foradvancing a tire to the apparatus, horizontal positioning means forhorizontally centering the tire on the apparatus, vertical positioningmeans for vertically positioning the tire on the apparatus after it ishorizontally centered and preparatory to inflation, inflating means forinflating the tire preparatory to awling, awling means for awling theinflated tire on at least one side thereof to relieve trapped airtherein, deflating means for deflating the tire, quick discharge meansfor ejecting the awled tire from the apparatus, locking means forlocking the upper and lower bead rings in predetermined spaced relationwith the tire in sealed relation therebetween preparatory to inflation,said locking means including a vertically disposed lock shaft positionedin the top of the apparatus and extending centrally upward through theupper bead ring,

said lock shaft having a lock key secured to its lower end, said lowerbead ring including a lower bead ring support having an annular groovefor receiving said lock key in locking relation therein after the lowerbead ring is raised to clamp the tire against the upper bead ringfollowing the locking of the upper and lower bead rings in predeterminedspaced relation.

2. An apparatus for automatically awling tires to relieve trapped airpockets interiorly of the tire casing comprising, feed means foradvancing a tire to the apparatus, horizontal positioning means forhorizontally centering the tire on the apparatus, vertical positioningmeans for vertically positioning the tire on the apparatus after it ishorizontally centered and preparatory to inflation, inflating means forinflating the tire preparatory to awling, awling means for awling theinflated tire on at least one side thereof to relieve trapped airtherein, deflating means for deflating the tire, and quick dischargemeans for ejecting the awled tire from the apparatus, said dischargemeans being a power-driven, roller type discharge conveyor, and furtherincluding a pair of spaced, coacting, hydraulically controlled, rearstop gate arms disposed at the sides of the discharge conveyor adjacentthe inner end thereof, said rear stop gate arms being horizontallyrotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from a position adjacent theinner end of the discharge conveyor to retain a tire thereat prior tocentering.

3. An apparatus for automatically awling tires comprising, a base, apair of spaced upstanding columns extending upwardly from said base, aninclined, gravity-type tire roller conveyor system disposed between andsecured to said columns intermediate the ends thereof including a feedconveyor and a discharge conveyor for feeding and discharging tires fromthe apparatus in preselected sequence, a pair of spaced coactinghydraulically controlled single tire release gates disposed at the sidesof the feed conveyor and configured and adapted to retain and releaseone tire at a time on such feed conveyor, said release gates beinghorizontally rotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from a positionover the feed conveyor to retain and release one tire at a time thereonin preselected sequence, whereby a released tire rolls down the feedconveyor by gravity to the inner end of such feed conveyor, two pair ofoppositely and horizontally spaced centering rollers disposed adjacentthe sides of the inner end of the feed conveyor and movably mounted fordisplacement toward and away from each other to center a tiretherebetween, a stationary upper tire bead ring secured to andinterposed between the spaced columns above the conveyor system, avertically movable lower bead ring disposed below the tire when it is inposition at the inner end of the feed conveyor, said lower bead ringbeing movable vertically so as to lift the tire and clamp it against theupper bead ring preparatory to inflation, a vertically disposed lockshaft extending centrally through the upper bead ring, said lock shafthaving a lock key secured to its lower end, said lower bead ringincluding a lower bead ring support having an annular groove receivingsaid lock key in locking relation therein when the lower bead ring israised to clamp the tire against the upper bead ring thereby locking theupper and lower bead rings and moving the same into a predeterminedspaced relation with the tire therebetween through the introduction ofinflation air, said lock shafi having an air passageway formedlongitudinally therein with the inner end of the passageway opening intothe interior of the tire when it is clamped between the bead rings andthe other end of the passageway being connected to an associated sourceof compressed air to inflate the tire, a plurality of hydraulicallyactuated awling mechanisms disposed in spaced operative relation on theperiphery of the bead rings for awling the sides of the tire to apredetermined depth when the tire is inflated, and a pair of spacedcoacting hydraulically controlled rear stop gate arms disposed at thesides of the discharge conveyor adjacent the inner end thereof, saidrear stop gate arms being horizontally rotatable in coacting timedsequence to and from a position adjacent the inner end of the feedconveyor to retain a tir e tl ere at. I

1. An apparatus for automatically awling tires to relieve trapped airpockets interiorly of the tire casing comprising, feed means foradvancing a tire to the apparatus, horizontal positioning means forhorizontally centering the tire on the apparatus, vertical positioningmeans for vertically positioning the tire on the apparatus after it ishorizontally centered and preparatory to inflation, inflating means forinflating the tire preparatory to awling, awling means for awling theinflated tire on at least one side thereof to relieve trapped airtherein, deflating means for deflating the tire, quick discharge meansfor ejecting the awled tire from the apparatus, locking means forlocking the upper and lower bead rings in predetermined spaced relationwith the tire in sealed relation therebetween preparatory to inflation,said locking means including a vertically disposed lock shaft positionedin the top of the apparatus and extending centrally upward through theupper bead ring, said lock shaft having a lock key secured to its lowerend, said lower bead ring including a lower bead ring support having anannular groove for receiving said lock key in locking relation thereinafter the lower bead ring is raised to clamp the tire against the upperbead ring following the locking of the upper and lower bead rings inpredetermined spaced relation.
 2. An apparatus for automatically awlingtires to relieve trapped air pockets interiorly of the tire casingcomprising, feed means for advancing a tire to the apparatus, horizontalpositioning means for horizontally centering the tire on the apparatus,vertical positioning means for vertically positioning the tire on theapparatus after it is horizontally centered and preparatory toinflation, inflating means for inflating the tire preparatory to awling,awling means for awling the inflated tire on at least one side thereofto relieve trapped air therein, deflating means for deflating the tire,and quick discharge means for ejecting the awled tire from theapparatus, said discharge means being a power-driven, roller typedischarge conveyor, and further including a pair of spaced, coacting,hydraulically controlled, rear stop gate arms disposed at the sides ofthe discharge conveyor adjacent the inner end thereof, said rear stopgate arms being horizontally rotatable in coacting timed sequence to andfrom a position adjacent the inner end of the discharge conveyor toretain a tire thereat prior to centering.
 3. An apparatus forautomatically awling tires comprising, a base, a pair of spacedupstanding columns extending upwardly from said base, an inclined,gravity-type tire roller conveyor system disposed between and secured tosaid columns intermediate the ends thereof including a feed conveyor anda discharge conveyor for feeding and discharging tires frOm theapparatus in preselected sequence, a pair of spaced coactinghydraulically controlled single tire release gates disposed at the sidesof the feed conveyor and configured and adapted to retain and releaseone tire at a time on such feed conveyor, said release gates beinghorizontally rotatable in coacting timed sequence to and from a positionover the feed conveyor to retain and release one tire at a time thereonin preselected sequence, whereby a released tire rolls down the feedconveyor by gravity to the inner end of such feed conveyor, two pair ofoppositely and horizontally spaced centering rollers disposed adjacentthe sides of the inner end of the feed conveyor and movably mounted fordisplacement toward and away from each other to center a tiretherebetween, a stationary upper tire bead ring secured to andinterposed between the spaced columns above the conveyor system, avertically movable lower bead ring disposed below the tire when it is inposition at the inner end of the feed conveyor, said lower bead ringbeing movable vertically so as to lift the tire and clamp it against theupper bead ring preparatory to inflation, a vertically disposed lockshaft extending centrally through the upper bead ring, said lock shafthaving a lock key secured to its lower end, said lower bead ringincluding a lower bead ring support having an annular groove receivingsaid lock key in locking relation therein when the lower bead ring israised to clamp the tire against the upper bead ring thereby locking theupper and lower bead rings and moving the same into a predeterminedspaced relation with the tire therebetween through the introduction ofinflation air, said lock shaft having an air passageway formedlongitudinally therein with the inner end of the passageway opening intothe interior of the tire when it is clamped between the bead rings andthe other end of the passageway being connected to an associated sourceof compressed air to inflate the tire, a plurality of hydraulicallyactuated awling mechanisms disposed in spaced operative relation on theperiphery of the bead rings for awling the sides of the tire to apredetermined depth when the tire is inflated, and a pair of spacedcoacting hydraulically controlled rear stop gate arms disposed at thesides of the discharge conveyor adjacent the inner end thereof, saidrear stop gate arms being horizontally rotatable in coacting timedsequence to and from a position adjacent the inner end of the feedconveyor to retain a tire thereat.